Terming the India-China rivalry as a "pseudo proposition" mooted by the West, a state run newspaper today said that the two Asian giants are busy improving their economies and not seeking hegemony, relegating even their border dispute.

"Many Westerners are asking, who will be the next Asian leader? Will it be the Chinese dragon or the Indian elephant? Their discussions of the dragon-elephant contention have polluted mutual observation between China and India", the 'Global Times' said in an editorial titled "Who wins the Dragon-Elephant contention".

"It is strange that the contention between China and India is especially singled out. contention over their borders is real. However, both the countries don't want to resort to military force on this issue. Compared to promoting prosperity, the border disputes are not the most urgent item on either country's agenda", it said.

"Both countries endeavour to build a strong economy, whereas neither thinks about hegemony in Asia. Both are seeking further modernization and first-class civil livelihood", it said.

"Senseless comparisons between China and India are not meaningful in either country.

Nevertheless, such comparison does exist in both countries, and India is especially excited on this. Some Indian opinions that smear China, in turn, have sparked passionate reaction among the Chinese public", it said.

"India and China have a similar self-identity: a big developing nations. At times, India claims itself as the biggest democratic nation in the world. The title of "the biggest democratic nation" looks like a glass of red wine enjoyed together by India and the west. But it doesn't generate anything substantial that is of India's national interests"

"With a huge population and much work left to be done in developing the economy, perhaps India won't get too drunk to act superior in front of China, because such superiority will delight India much less than it delights the west", it said.

"The dragon-elephant contention is a pseudo-proposition, but a true desire of US and European conservatives. Hopefully both nations will witness a peaceful rise that is good for everyone", it said.

Beijing, Dec 16 (PTI) Terming the India-China rivalry as a "pseudo proposition" mooted by the West, a state run newspaper today said that the two Asian giants are busy improving their economies and not seeking hegemony, relegating even their border dispute.

"Many Westerners are asking, who will be the next Asian leader? Will it be the Chinese dragon or the Indian elephant? Their discussions of the dragon-elephant contention have polluted mutual observation between China and India", the 'Global Times' said in an editorial titled "Who wins the Dragon-Elephant contention".

"It is strange that the contention between China and India is especially singled out. contention over their borders is real. However, both the countries don't want to resort to military force on this issue. Compared to promoting prosperity, the border disputes are not the most urgent item on either country's agenda", it said.

"Both countries endeavour to build a strong economy, whereas neither thinks about hegemony in Asia. Both are seeking further modernization and first-class civil livelihood", it said.

"Senseless comparisons between China and India are not meaningful in either country.

Nevertheless, such comparison does exist in both countries, and India is especially excited on this. Some Indian opinions that smear China, in turn, have sparked passionate reaction among the Chinese public", it said.

"India and China have a similar self-identity: a big developing nations. At times, India claims itself as the biggest democratic nation in the world. The title of "the biggest democratic nation" looks like a glass of red wine enjoyed together by India and the west. But it doesn't generate anything substantial that is of India's national interests"

"With a huge population and much work left to be done in developing the economy, perhaps India won't get too drunk to act superior in front of China, because such superiority will delight India much less than it delights the west", it said.

"The dragon-elephant contention is a pseudo-proposition, but a true desire of US and European conservatives. Hopefully both nations will witness a peaceful rise that is good for everyone", it said.